Stranded Rothschild's Giraffes
Conservation Story
Rothschild's Giraffe Rescue
How wildlife biologists and conservationists are rescuing Rothschild's giraffes from a shrinking island
The Tallest Land Mammal
So, What's the Problem?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) identifies four main threats to giraffe populations...
01
Habitat Loss
Human expansion is rapidly progressing throughout giraffe habitat resulting in native habitat being degraded or converted into agriculture.
02
Civil Unrest
Military operations and violence in giraffe territories have destroyed the landscape and threatened herds.
03
Poaching
Hunting for sport is still very common among giraffes. In fact, between 2006 and 2015, the US imported more than 20,000 carved giraffe bones.
04
Ecological Changes
Changes influenced by people and climate are altering giraffe habitat and degrading resources. This is what we are going to focus on today!
It is estimated that giraffe populations have declined 40% in the past 30 years.
A Stranded Herd
Giraffes have not been seen in the Baringo area within the Rift Valley of eastern Africa in nearly 70 years until a herd of 8 Rothschild's giraffes was moved there in 2011. Biologists and local governments wanted to reintroduce giraffes into the region somewhere they could be monitored and protected, so the 8 giraffes were transported to Longcharo Peninsula on Lake Baringo in western Kenya.
In the past decade, increased rainfall and lakeshore degradation through unsustainable agricultural practices have caused massive flooding of the lakes in the Rift Valley. Lake Baringo has increased so much that the Longcharo Peninsula has turned into an island, stranding the giraffe herd along with warthogs, impalas, and ostriches. Flooding on the island was reported rising 6 inches per day and has destroyed homes, schools, and businesses on the mainland. With the island shrinking rapidly, biologists from Save Giraffes Now, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and the Northern Rangelands Trust
got to work.
The Plan
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Step Four
Step Five
What Now?
Six giraffes still remain on the rapidly shrinking island of Longcharo. With the incredible success of transporting the first two giraffes, the remaining six are scheduled to be transported by the end of January 2021.
Once the eight giraffes arrive at the conservancy and settle into their new home, there is hope that another population of Rothschild's giraffes will come join them. If these populations breed, it will increase population size and genetic diversity!
Biologists are hopeful that with the introduction of giraffes into the Ruko Conservancy that populations will be restored in the western Rift Valley for the first time in 70 years.
You Can Help Giraffes
Get to Know Giraffes
Visiting your local AZA accredited zoo means a portion of your visit is going to conservation in the wild! Getting to know giraffes in real life can help you appreciate and respect them and turn you into a giraffe advocate!
Shop Local
Giraffe habitat is quickly being taken over by agriculture. You can help save giraffes and many other species by shopping local and researching where the ingredients in your products are from.
Donate
Donations to organizations like Save Giraffes Now or the Giraffe Conservation Foundation will help support monitoring, re-wildling projects, antipoaching units, and education in local communities.
